Bradish, Diaz Win First MLB Arbitration Decisions of 2026

Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish and Astros catcher Yainer Diaz prevail in salary disputes with their teams.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 9:47pm

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Starting pitcher Kyle Bradish of the Baltimore Orioles and catcher Yainer Diaz of the Houston Astros won their salary arbitration cases on Tuesday, marking the first decisions of the 2026 MLB offseason. Bradish was awarded a raise from $2.35 million to $3.55 million, while Diaz will earn $4.5 million instead of the Astros' $3 million offer.

Why it matters

Salary arbitration is an important process that allows players and teams to settle contract disputes without going to court. These early decisions set the tone for the rest of the offseason and could impact future negotiations between players and their clubs.

The details

Bradish, a 29-year-old right-hander, returned to the Orioles in August 2025 after recovering from Tommy John surgery. He went 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA in six starts, striking out 47 and walking 10 in 32 innings. Diaz, 27, hit .256 with 20 homers and 70 RBIs for the Astros last season after batting .299 with 16 homers and 84 RBIs in 2024.

  • The arbitration decisions were made on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
  • Bradish returned to the Orioles on August 26, 2025 following Tommy John surgery in June 2024.

The players

Kyle Bradish

A 29-year-old right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.

Yainer Diaz

A 27-year-old catcher for the Houston Astros.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

These early arbitration decisions demonstrate the importance of the process in settling contract disputes between players and teams, setting the stage for the rest of the MLB offseason negotiations.